Securing Your Wireless Network – A Guide For The Novice

What if someone is scanning and reading your private information from your computer right now? Would you like it if your bank account details and online transaction details went into the wrong hands? Scary isn’t it? In the previous post we talked about the dangers of using an unsecured wireless connection, but how do we actually go about securing it?
Let’s see how you can actually tweak and manage your wireless network and turn it into something like the Great Wall of China… None of us would ever have to worry about getting hacked, losing valuable information or ending up with hefty bills (coz’ Mr.Unauthorized decided to have some fun at your expense) if you just asked yourselves these two simple questions:
• What are WEP and WPA encryption and why the hell should I use them?
Encryption is the first line of defense for any network, computer or router and there are no exceptions. Will you be surprised if I told you that most of the routers ship with the encryption turned off? Have you turned it on? If not, now would be the right time to do it, as not doing so will leave you completely exposed and vulnerable.
Earlier networks used to rely on WEP but the more recent WAP and WAP2 are more secure and difficult to hack, so I would advise that you go either with WAP or WAP2 when you go about securing your network. If you are using an older router that supports WEP only, then going in for a 128 bit encryption is what I would advise but make sure that the manufacturer has not issued any firmware upgrade (it can make the router WAP and WAP2 compatible).
Once you are done setting it up make sure to change the default name and password for the network or simple enough go for a service provider who does it all for you…

• I have a router with firewall, why would I need to use these security features?
Though your firewall might stop a hacker from compromising your computer, it definitely can’t stop anyone from getting onto your network if they are within range of your Wi-Fi signal. That’s why it is always advisable to run software firewalls on every PC on the network, without a proper encryption and firewall anyone can use tools to spy on all the outgoing and incoming traffic on your Wi-Fi.

Securing your network is the first thing that you should do, when you either install a new or upgrade an existing wireless connection, not only will it save you from the dangers of losing your most intimate information but it might even cause financial damage, because all it takes is just a small mistake to let that peeping tom onto your network and into your life…